Machine for making wax matches.



No. 668,!79. I Patented Feb, I9, I90l. J.L.HARVEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

(Application filed June 24, 1899.)

(No Mbdei.)

9 Sheets-Sheet l.

line 1 nor.

Attorney- THE NORRIS PETERS cc. PHUTOJITHON msnma'mm nv c.

No. 668,|79. Patented Feb. [9, 1mm.

u. HARVEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

(Application filed June 24, 1899.)

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Shoat 2.

1 A Witnesses. Inventor.

f diww,

Attorney.

m: NORRIS PETERS 0a.. Puma-Lune" WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 668,|79. Patented Feb. I9, l90l. J. L. HARVEY. MACHINE FOR MAKINGWAX MATCHES. (No Model (Applicafiion filed J'\ me 24, 1899.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Witnesses.

N0; 668,l79- Patented Feb. |9,"|90L J.L. HARVEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

(Application filed June 24, 1899.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Attdr ney.

1m: nmims PEYERS c0. vnoTo-urua, wAsulNnTnN, n c.

No. 668,|79. Patented Feb. I9, IQDI.

J. L. HARVEY. MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

(Application filed June 24, 1899.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheat 5.

Witnesses. Inventor.

Attorney.

THE scams PEYERS ca. vwcn'aumo.v wnsumomm n. c.

no. 668,!79. Patented Feb. I9, 1901 .1. L. HARVEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

(Apple tion flldJuu 24 1899) 9 Sheets-Shaat s.

(No Model.)

Inventor.

Witnesses.

Attorney.

No. 668,179. Patented Feb. l9; I90I.

' .1. L. HARVEY. MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES. uodeL) (Applicationfiled June 24, 1899.)

9 Sheets-Shea! 7.

Invntor.

Witnesses. W 4

Attorney- THE "cams PEYERS co, PHOTO-LITHQ, wasnwomw, u. c.

rm.- 668,179. I Patented Feb. |9, |90|.

J. L. HARVEY.

MACHINE FOR'HAKING WAX MATCHES.

(Application filed June 24, 1899.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Shut 8.

Inventor.

I Attorney- Witnesses.

,agz

THE Norms versus co. FHOTO-LITHD. wnsnwomm u. r.

m. 668,179., Patented Feb. I9, IBOI. .1. L. HARVEY. MACHINE FOR MAKINGWAX MATCHES.

(Application filed. June 24, 1899.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Shunt 9.

Witnesses.

, Inventor.

Attorney.

rm: bums PETERS co. momma, WASHINGTON n. c.

llama *r'rs arena amen.

JOHN L. HARVEY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 668,179, dated February19, 1901.

Application filed June 24, 1899. b'eritl O- 721,720- tNo model.)

To all whom. it may concern.-

Be it knownthat I, JOHN L. HARVEY, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for Making Wax Matches, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to machines for making wax matches, an d,asgenerallystated,coinprehends a novel construction and organization ofmechanism whereby threads are immersed in a composition-bath andeffectually coated thereby to constitute wax-taper material of a uniformdiameter, means whereby the said material is cooled and hardened, meanswhereby it is reeled up as rapidly as it is produced and the severalstrips or lengths at the same time introduced to racks, and therebyuniformly spaced and separated in vertical and horizontal rows, meanswhereby the racks, with the interposed material, are clamped togetherupon the reel, means whereby the parts thus clamped may be freed fromthe reel and transported therefrom to a cutting apparatus, whereby thesaid rows of material may be severed into match lengths or sections andbe maintained by the racks in predetermined groups, to the end that saidlengths or sections may be conveniently and expeditiously handled in theoperation of heading the same with ignitilole composition, all of whichwill be hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2is a plan of the thread-supplying devices and the composition andcooling-tanks. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, as on the line3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. at is a side elevation of a portion of the reel andadjuncts. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section thereof, showing theracks and taper material thereon. Fig. 6 is a detail of the reel and theoverlying trackway, the former being represented as fully supplied withthe racks and taper material and about to receive one of theclampcarrying frames delivered from said trackway. Fig. 7 is a verticalsection through the said reel with the several rows of racks clampedthereon, showing the underlying off-bearing trucks upon which said racksare adapted to be deposited. Fig. 8 is a plan of a portion of one of therack-carrying frames. Fig. 9 is a transverse section thereof, as on theline 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10is an elevation of one end of a row of racks,showing a series of match-strips clamped therein. Fig. 11 is a plan ofthe same. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one end of a clamp. Fig. 13is a similar View of a portion of a rack and a chain-link engagedtherewith. Fig. 14 is a vertical section through the hopper forsupplying the racks to the chain conveyers, a portion of the latterbeing shown. Fig. 15 is an elevation of one of the circular cutters.Fig. 16 is an edge view thereof.

A is a substantial supporting-frame, B a source of thread-supplythereon, and G a horizontally-disposed tank or casing arranged inadvance of the latter and adapted to contain the melted paraffin orother composition by which the threads are to be coated. In the presentinstance these threads are drawn from a series of cops or bobbins 1,which are mounted on a suitable truck 2. The casing is provided with aseries of pipes 3, through which steam is circulated for the purpose ofinsuring the proper consistency of the composition. The rearward end ofthis casing is provided at its upper portion with a transverse opening4, through which the threads are drawn into and longitudinally of thecasing, the support 2 for the cops being provided with an arch 5,carrying an anifriction-roller 6, over which and a similar roller 7,adjacent to the opening, the threads are directed. At the forward end ofthe casingis atapering head 8, provided with a horizontal opening 10,leading to a perforated die plate 11, through which the coated threadsare drawn and a uniform diameter imparted thereto. This die-plate isbolted on the end of the casing, so as to be readily detachabletherefrom, as occasion may require.

Within the casing is arranged a series of transverse wires or rods 12,upon which the threads are drawn and by whichthey are alternately dippedinto and raised from the composition-bath in a manner to insure theefiectural coating of the threads. In the present instance theextremities of these wires are affixed to cranks 13, the studs 14 ofwhich are journaled in the side walls of the casing. The studs in one ofthe walls are extended thereth rough and are provided on their outerextremities with pinions 15, with the teeth of which is engaged anendless sprocketchain 16, whereby when one of the pinions is rotated theentire series of cranks will be revolved, the wires or rods in theirrotation thus dipping into and rising from the composition andpermitting the threads to rise and fall accordingly. It will be observedthat the threads pass under that wire at the rearward end of the casingand over the remaining wires, that the die-openings at the forward endof the casing are below the level of the composition, and that inconsequence when the threads are drawn through said openings the risingand falling of the threads is insured.

One of the crank-studs is provided with a pulley 17, thatis belted withan adjacent pulley 18, driven from a suitable source of power, thuseffecting the described concerted operation of the train of pinions. 1 1

In order that the rearward end of the casing maybe readily lowered topermit the composition to flow below the level of the dieopeningsas, forinstance, during the recharging of the casing or for the removal or thereplacement of the die or for any other desired purposethe forward endof the easing is pivoted, as at 19, upon standards 20, and the rearwardend thereof is supported upon a cam 21, the shaft of which is journaledin suitable standards 22. This shaft is provided at one end with aspur-wheel 23, with which engages a pinion 24 on an adjacent crank-shaft25, by the manipulation of which the cam may be turned more or less toeffect the adjustment of the casing.

Immediately in front of the casing is arranged a cooling-tank D, belowwhich pass thewaxed threads as they are drawn through the dies, theplastic coating thus being cooled and hardened. This tank is providedwith a perforated bottom 26 and is supported upon the framework A. Itmay be supplied with ice through which a current of air is blown andcooled, or air previously cooled may be blown into the empty tank, theperforated bottom thereof breaking up the current and distributing itupon and throughout the underlying coated material. Below the tank is adrip-pan 27, provided with a pipe 28, leading to a suitable point ofdischarge.

Located in advance of the cooling-tank is askeleton reel E of peculiarconstruction upon which the coated material is Wound in parallel rows asrapidly as it is produced, provisions being had whereby rack-bars, asthey may be termed, are delivered to the reel in succeedingrows and thematerial supplied thereto, whereby each series of bars and the imposedtapers are clamped together when the winding operation has beencompleted, and whereby the bars and material thus clamped together arereleased from the reel. Referring in this connection more especially toFigs. 4 to 7, both inclusive, of the drawings, 29 is a horizontal shafthaving its bearings in boxes 30 on a suitable framework 31.

Mounted on this shaft is the body of the reel,

the same being square in cross-section or substantially so, as seen.Thus the reel has four plane faces, each of which comprises a series ofbars 32, sustained by brace-rods 33, which are affixed to hubs 34, faston the shaft 29. The outer bars of each face are provided withguide-brackets 35, to which are fitted laterally movable carriages 36,whose function will hereinafter appear. These carriages each comprise abase-bar 37 and a side bar 38, the latter being provided at or near itsends with lugs 39 40, respectively, one of which, 39, has an inclined orbeveled edge, as seen. The carriages upon each side of the reel areconnected fixedly together by means of a skeleton frame 41, which is inturn connected with a nut 42 on a screw-threaded sleeve 43 on the shaft29. This sleeve is oppositely threaded at its respective ends for thereception of the correspondingly-thread ed 11 uts, whereby when thesleeve, which is loosely mounted on the shaft, is rotated both nuts andtheir respective connections, including the carriages, are movedhorizontally toward and from each other. The sleeve constitutes, ineffect, the hub of a spur-gear 44, with which engages a pinion 45, theshaft 146 of which has its bearings in boxes on bracerods 33 of thereel. One end of this shaft extends beyond the side of the reel andcarries a gear 47, which engages with apinion 48 on asleeve 149, looselymounted on the reel-shaft. On this sleeve are three pulleys 150, the twoouter pulleys being loose and the middle pulley fast. Upon the outerpulleys run two belts 151 152, respectively, one being straight and theother crossed, to the end that if one or the other belt be shifted uponthe fast pulley the sleeve will be turned in either direction desired,and thus through the intermediate gearing the sleeve will be turnedaccordingly for the purpose of moving the carriages outward or inward.

On one end of the shaft 29 is a spur-wheel 153, with which coacts apinion 154 on a lower stud-shaft 155, which may be driven from asuitable source of power to effect the bodily rotation of the reel. Fromthe foregoing it will be seen that when both belts are on the loosepulleys the gear-sleeve 43 and its nuts will turn as a unit, and thusobviate any liability of lateral movement of the carriages.

Journaled in suitable bearings in the frame A is a shaft 44 upon whichare mounted two suitably-separated reels 45*, carrying each a chain 46of peculiar construction. The free ends of the chains are adapted to behooked ner sides of said carriages.

or otherwise detachably secured to the baseboards, respectively, of apair of opposite carriages when the latter are in their innermostposition, to the end that if the reel E be rotated the chains willbe'wound upon the in- The chains on their way to the reel are guidedbelow a transversely-disposed hopper F by means of suitably-locatedrollers 147. In this hopper are contained a pile of rack-bars G, whichare de' livered one by one to the chains and conveyed upward thereby tothe reel. In the present instance the bottom of the hopper opensdirectly upon the chains, and the links of the latter are provided ontheir upper faces with ribs or projections 49, which as the chainsprogress abut against the opposing ends of the lowermost racks and carrythem upward in succession. Each of these racks comprises a slat or bar50, having on its upper side a strip of rubber 51 or other yieldingmaterial whose upper face is provided with a series of transversegrooves 52, preferably with flaring mouths,arran ged at equal distancesapart. The grooved strip does not extend the entire length of the slator bar, and the uncovered end portions of the latter are provided withslots 53 for the reception of certain clamp devices hereinafterdescribed.

Before the ends of the chains are connected with the carriages on thereel, as above stated, they are drawn below the hopper and a number ofthe racks thus carried upward thereby and supported across the upperhorizontal face of the reel. The free ends of the coated threads arethen clamped along one corner of the reel E by means of a bar 4:, so asto enter the grooves of the initial series of racks upon the reel. Thisbeing done the reel is revolved, the chain, racks, and coated threads ortapers thus being wound thereon, the racks being sustained at equaldistances apart upon the chains and being imposed one upon the other inthe succeeding revolutions, and the tapers being embedded in the groovesof the contiguous racks, so as to be held thereby in uniform horizontaland vertical rows.

It will be seen that the coated threads as they are wound upon the rackstie the latter in place and serve, in conjunction with the chain, toprevent their displacement. Dur ing the final revolution of the reelaseries of clamping-yokes H is delivered thereto and automaticallyconnected with the respective rows of rack-bars, so as to effectuallylock the latter and the taper material together. These yokes comprisevertical limbs 55, connected at their upper ends by a cross-bar 56 andpointed or beveled at their lower extremities. They are provided ontheir lower inner edges with a series of ratchet-teeth 57, with whichspring-actuated bolts 58 on the lowermost rack-bars are adapted to beengaged when the yokes are applied to the series of rack-bars. Thesebolts are fitted in suitably-arranged guides 59 on the under sides ofthe first row of racks applied to the reel and are held normallyprojectedin position to engage the teeth of the yoke-clamps by coiledsprings 60, disposed in the guides.

The mechanism for delivering and applying the clamps to the racks is ofthe follow-- ing construction: 61 is an inclined chute or trackwayleading ad jacent to the path traversed by the upper forward portion ofthe reel, and I is a series of frames adapted to be arranged end to endupon said trackway and to be delivered thereby in succession upon therespective faces of the reel during the final revolution of the latter.Each of these frames comprises a pair of parallel rails 62, maintained asuitable distance apart by means of cross-bar's 63. On the inner edgesof the rails are vertical guidways 64, to which are fitted the verticalmembers of the yokeclamps, which are spaced apart or separatedcorrespondingly with the rows of racks on the reel. The lower ends ofthese clamps are temporarily supported upon longitudinally disposedslide-bars 65, which are fitted to the lower edges of the respectiverails. In the present instance the bars and rails are connected byinterlocking dovetailed tongues and grooves, as seen. The bars areprovided with vertical slots 66, which are spaced correspondingly withthe guideways in the rails. Normally the slots are out of line with saidguideways; but when the bars are shifted to move their slots intoregister with the guideways the yoke-clamps, being unsupported by thebars, drop through said slots by gravity, as will be hereinafterdescribed.

*On the outer edge of the bars, near the rearward ends thereof, are lugs67, carrying laterallyprojecting rollers 68, and on the outer sides ofthe rails, near the respective ends thereof, are antifriction-rollers69. The rollers 6S and 69 are so disposed in respect to each other andto the lugs 39 40 on the frames that in the final revolution of the reelas the frames are directed thereto the lugs on the advancing uppermostcarriages on the reel coacts with the opposing rollers 69 and draw theframe forward therewith, the rearward rollers riding upon the trackwayuntil they escape the end thereof, whereupon the frame drops bodily uponthe underlying row of racks on the reel. As the frame descends theadjacent rollers 68 69 on the respective sides of the frame embrace theunderlying lugs 39, and the beveled edges of the latter perforce advancethe bars independently of the side rails and bring the slots in saidbars in registry with the vertical limits of the yokeclamps, as aboveindicated. These limbs thus penetrate the slots in the vertical rows ofracks, and the teeth thereof are automatically engaged by thespring-bolts on the 1 are likewise fed to the advancing faces of thereel and the respective rows of rack-bars correspondingly lockedtogether.

The frames I, minus the clamps, are removed by an attendant and equippedwith other clamps for a succeeding operation. An off-bearin g trackwayfor the empty frames may be used. The respective racks having beenclamped as just described, the operation of the reel is arrested, andthe row of tapers being delivered from the casing to the reel is cut offon a line adjacent to the latter. This being done, the belt 51 isshifted onto the fast pulley on the sleeve 48, thus effecting therotationof said sleeve and, through the intermediate gearing andconnections, moving the carriages laterally outward ,such carriagesperforce withdrawing the chains from the ends of the racks. In orderstill more effectually to insure the withdrawal of the chains, Ipreferably provide books 71, which preparatory to the outward adjustmentof the carriages are applied thereto, so as to take against the inneredges of the chains. (See Fig. 5.)

Arranged below the reel E is a trackway 72,

, upon which is run a train of trucks 73. When the chains have beenshifted as just stated, one of these trucks is run below the reel, andthe attendant by means of a suitable knife severs theentire body oftaper material along that corner of that reel where the ends of thethreads are clamped by the bar 54. The freed end of the bottom series ofracks and tapers thus drops upon the underlying truck. The operator thengradually turns the reel and at the same time advances the trucksthereunder, and in consequence the several series of racks and tapersdrop n pon the trucks in succession. The train of trucks is then movedadjacent to a gang of rapidly-revolving circular cutters J and thegroups of racks cut apart, so as to leave one group upon each truck. Thetrucks are then run successively below the cutters and the tapermaterial thereon divided on lines at or adjacent to one edge of eachvertical row of racks. There is thus held by each row of racks a seriesof match lengths the free ends of which may be readily dipped inignitible composition. In the present instance each of the truckscontaining the material to be cut is run upon a trackway 74 on anunderlying truck 75, which in turn traverses a cross-track 76 lyingbelow the series of cutters, to the end that the first-named truck maybe readily run below the cutters and thence transferred to a suitabledipping-room.

The cutters comprise a series of circular disks 77, mounted at suitabledistances apart on a horizontal shaft 78, which has its bearings in aframe 79 and is driven from a suitable source of power. Each of thedisks is provided with two peripheral cutting edges 80 81, respectively,one of which is of slightlysmaller diameter than the other. Thesecutters rotate adjacent to one side of each set of racks, the largercutting edge first contacting with the taut taper material and severingthe same with a clean cut and the smaller edge likewise shearing oif thesmall lengths of material projecting beyond the sides of the racks.

I claim 1. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination with acasing in which the coating composition is contained, of means forraising and lowering the rearward end of said casing, a source ofthread-supply from which the threads are drawn through said casing, anda die or dies at the forward end of said casing for the passage of thecoated threads.

2. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination with a casing inwhich the coating composition is contained, of a pivotal support for theforward end of said casing, a cam upon which the rearward end issupported, and means for bearing and operating said cam, a source ofthread-supply from which the threads are drawn through said casing, anda die or dies at the forward end of said casing for the passage of thecoated threads. 7

3. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination with a source ofthread-supply, a casing in which the coating composition is containedand through which the threads are drawn, a die or dies at the forwardend of said casing for the passage ofv the coated threads, a coolertherefor, means whereby the coated threads are disposed in succeedingparallel rows, means whereby rack-bars are interposed between succeedingrows, and means whereby the superposed rows of bars are clampedtogether.

4:. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination with a sourceof thread-supply, a casing in which the coating composition is containedand through which the threads are drawn, a die at the forward end ofsaid casing for the passage of the coated threads, a cooler therefor, areel upon which said threads are wound, means for feeding rack-bars atintervals apart upon said reel during the winding of the threadsthereon, and means for clamping together the superposed rack barsbetween which the threads are clamped. v

5. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination with a reel uponwhich the coated material is wound in parallel rows, of means forautomatically feeding rack-bars at intervals apart upon said reel duringthe winding of the threads thereon, and means for locking together thesuperposed rack-bars between which the threads are clamped.

6. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination with a reelprovided with laterally-movable carriages, means for moving saidcarriages toward and from each other,

a source of taper-supply for said reel, a source of rack-bar supplytherefor, flexible carriers adapted to be wound upon said carriages andto deliver thereto the rack-bars at intervals apart, and means forclamping together the superposed rack-bars and the taper materialpreparatory to their removal from the reel.

7. The combination with a source of taper supply, of a reel to which thefree ends of the tapers are secured, and means for supporting androtating said reel, a pair of chains secured to said reel and providedwith studs or projections at intervals apart, a hopper for supplyingrack-bars successively to said chain whereby the bars are engaged attheir ends by the studs or projections on the chains and carried uponthe reel, means whereby the rows of rack'bars, with the interposed tapermaterial, are clamped together, and means whereby the chains are removedfrom the ends of the rack-bars.

8. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination with a reelprovided with laterally-movable carriages, means for moving saidcarriages toward and from each other, a source of taper-supply for saidreel, a source of rack-bar supply therefor, flexible carriers adapted tobe wound upon said carriages and to deliver thereto the rack-bars atintervals apart, and means for feeding and applying clainp-bars to thesucceeding rows of super-- posed rack-bars.

9. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination with a reelprovided with laterally-movable carriages, means for movin g saidcarriages toward and from each other, a source of taper-supply for saidreel, a source of rack-bar supply therefor, flexible carriers adapted tobe wound upon said carriages and to deliver thereto the rack-bars atintervals apart, a series of frames carrying rack-clamping devices,means for feeding said frames upon the reel, and means for applying theclamping devices to the rows of superposed rack-bars.

10. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination with a supportor carrier, means for supplying rack-bars thereto, and means forintroducing rows of taper material between said rack-bars, of a frameprovided with a series of detachable clamping devices for saidrack-bars, and means whereby said devices are applied to and interlockedwith said bars.

11. The described clampcarrying frame comprising connected side rails,provided with vertical guideways, and slide-bars on the lower edges ofsaid rails provided with slots or openings corresponding with said waysin combination, with the slotted rack-bars adapted to receive and holdrows of taper material, clamp devices mounted on said frame and adaptedto be applied thereby to, and engaged with, the rack-bars, and lockingmeans for the clamp devices.

12. The combination with a support or carrier, the end slotted rack-barsand the rows of taper material thereon, of the clamp-carrying framecomprising connected side rails with vertical guideways, and slide-barsprovided with slots or openings corresponding with said ways; clampdevices fitted to said guideways, and supported by said slide-bars, andmeans whereby said bars are moved to bring the slots therein in registrywith said guideways and permit the passage of the clamp devices throughthe underlying racks when the frame is applied thereto, and look-- ingmeans on the lowermost rack-bars adapted to engage said clamp devices.

13. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination with a reel orcarrier upon which rows of taper material and rack-bars are wound andclamped, of cutting mechanism, whereby the material clamped between theadjacent rows of bars is cut into lengths, after the said bars andmaterial have been removed from the reel or carrier.

14. The combination with a series of rackbars between which tapers areclamped, of a series of cutting-disks having each two peripheral cuttingedges of different diameters.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 21st dayof June, A. D. 1899.

JOHN L. HARVEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. NOLAN, ANDREW V. GROUPE.

